The National Security Council (NSC) on Saturday expressed alarm over the arrest of three Filipino nationals by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on charges of espionage.

In a statement, NSC spokesperson and Director-General Jonathan Malaya stressed that the arrested Filipinos are former scholars of Hainan Normal University who were granted scholarships under the sisterhood agreement between the provinces of Hainan in China and Palawan in the Philippines.

“They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study. They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there,” Malaya said.

Chinese state media earlier reported that PRC authorities had arrested three Filipinos for espionage, claiming that “conclusive evidence of their involvement” was “obtained.”

“Investigators said the three received monthly payments from the Philippine intelligence agency, with additional bonuses for high-value intelligence,” the report said.

According to the report, security officials claimed that since 2021, “The Philippine intelligence agency has recruited and trained Filipino nationals living in China to gather information on the country’s military deployments.”

It also mentioned that the “three suspects have reportedly confessed and expressed remorse.”

'Edited confessions'

Meanwhile, Malaya stressed that the video released by Chinese media had been edited and that the supposed “confessions” from the detained Filipinos only “raise more questions than answers.”

He also criticized a part of the video in which one of the Filipinos expressed regret, noting that it “also notably portrayed China in a positive light.”

“There was also mention of a ‘Philippine Intelligence Agency’ or ‘Philippine Spy Intelligence Services,’ which is a non-existing government agency,” he added.

Malaya said the alleged “confessions” appeared to be scripted, “strongly suggesting that they were not made freely” by the arrested individuals.

“Given the limited information released by Chinese media, the arrests can be seen as a retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices by Philippine law enforcement and counterintelligence agencies in recent months,” he added.

As the case progresses, Malaya said the Philippine government is prioritizing the safety and well-being of the Filipinos involved in the charges.

“We will continue to coordinate closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to ensure that they receive appropriate legal support and that they are accorded due process considering the gravity of the accusations made against them,” he added.

The NSC urged the Chinese government to respect the rights of the three Filipinos and “afford them every opportunity to clear their names in the same way that the rights of Chinese nationals are respected here in the Philippines.”

“We urge the Filipino people to remain vigilant and discerning in the face of these accusations. Let us stand united in our commitment to truth, justice, and adherence to international law while prioritizing the well-being of our citizens abroad,” he added.

On Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured that the Philippine government will extend necessary legal help to the three Filipinos arrested in China.

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the Philippine government has already sought assurance from the Chinese government to accord the arrested Filipinos due process under their domestic law and the Philippines–China Consular Agreement.

“The Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou is providing all necessary assistance, including appropriate legal support, for the Filipinos,” she noted.